How we see The Giles School
How The Giles School sees itself
"The Giles School is a co-ed, French immersion independent school that also offers a fully-licensed daycare program. Children display superior academic performance across all subjects including English, Mandarin and Spanish. The Giles School is a deliberately small school, and offers an inclusive, innovative and outstanding educational program to prepare Pre-K to Grade 8 students to be “World Ready,” empowering them to be leaders, problem-solvers and innovators."
"THE GILES SCHOOL
Founded in 1989, the Giles school has been expanding young minds, through a multilingual and comprehensive environment. Our six pillar philosophy, provides an enriched curriculum, with small class sizes, for children Pre Kindergarten through Grade 8 (ages 2-13), with focus on: Language (English, French, Mandarin & Spanish), STEM programs, arts, music, health/fitness, and co-curricular activities; and empowers individuality, internationality, as well as community leadership."
"Our commitment and dedication to each and every student, provides a foundation that is unlike most independent schools. We teach with joy, and classes are fun. Our vision is to have well rounded and international ready people of the future."
"How much our staff and former Giles School alumni are a part of our ongoing community"
"The truly unique experience students receive"
"1. Communication:We teach students to speak with confidence, in multiple languages (English, French, Mandarin & Spanish)
2. Foster and promote: inclusivity, individuality and and positivity
3. Class sizes set to ensure each child has the attention and focus needed to ensure their success
4. Robust STEAM program, so students can explore their interests as well as learn practical skills
5. Less then 150 students, means everyone knows your name"
How people from the school’s community see The Giles School
Top-down influence on the school’s direction and tone
Caroline Bernaba, Principal
Why did you want to become a teacher?
My love for children draws me to this profession and my passion for making a difference in children's lives.
How long have you been a teacher?
19 years, and I have been working at the Giles School since May 1992.
Where were you teaching before joining the Giles School?
Saint Joseph De L'Apparition in Lebanon
How many Languages do you speak? And what are they?
Arabic, French, English.
What would the students be surprised to find out about you?
I'm afraid of birds and dogs.
What’s the best thing about being a teacher?
The potential of transforming lives. There's never a dull moment in my classroom.
Interests/hobbies?
Riding horses, cooking and travelling.
Do you have a pet(s)? How old is he/she? What is his/her name?
I had a pony when I was a child at my grandpa's farm. Her name was Bella.
Is there a quote or saying that you live your life by?
Focus on the journey, not the destination.
If you’re considering a small school for your extroverted child, make sure it offers plenty of social opportunities, including the ability to seek out and interact with different peer groups. Since smaller schools have smaller and less diverse student populations than big schools, it can sometimes be more challenging for your child to find a like-minded group of friends—friends with similar interests, values, etc.
“It’s important to look at the social makeup of the school,” says Ruth Rumack of Ruth Rumack's Learning Space. "Is there enough variety that your child will have a group that they feel connected with? Because you want to have friends that are like-minded and you want to be in a social situation where you feel honoured and respected. Variety can also be found in extracurriculars, leadership programs, and sports activities, which tend to have kids with a wide range of personalities.”
Also, make sure a school’s teaching and learning approach is suitable for your social child. “For instance, a school focusing on individual learning instead of group learning may not play into your child’s strengths,” say Ann and Karen Wolff, Toronto-based education consultants at Wolff Educational Services. “You want to make sure the social, emotional, and academic realities of the classroom are a match for your child’s personality.”
If you’re considering a language immersion school for your extroverted child, make sure it offers a wide range of social opportunities, including the ability to interact with kids outside of class. Since most of your child’s learning won’t be in their mother tongue, they may find it challenging at times to negotiate the complexities of social interaction in the classroom. This makes it especially important to ensure the school offers extensive extracurriculars—such as volunteering, sports teams, and arts programs—which will help your child satisfy their need to interact and make friends.
Smaller schools often have small classrooms and tight-knit communities, which can make it easier for your introverted child to come out of their shell, make friends, and feel like they belong. Since they’re less socially overwhelming, your child should find it easier to navigate their social environment. And since they’re conducive to group work, small classes often have plenty of interaction, which can help your child develop critical interpersonal skills.
Of course, small schools normally have a less diverse student population than big schools, which can sometimes make it more challenging to find a group of like-minded peers—peers with similar personalities, interests, values, etc. This makes it especially important to ask a school about its extracurricular programs, which can help your introverted child establish an intimate social circle.
If you’re considering a language immersion school for your introverted child, make sure it offers plenty of social opportunities, including the ability to interact with different peer groups outside of class. Since most of your child’s learning won’t be in their mother tongue, they may find it challenging at times to negotiate the complexities of social interaction in the classroom. This makes it especially important to ensure the school offers extensive extracurriculars—such as student council, volunteering, and team sports—which can enable your child to connect with peers, make new friends outside of class, overcome their shyness, and develop critical social skills.
THE OUR KIDS REPORT: The Giles School
Next steps to continue your research:
Continue researching The Giles School with OurKids.net, or visit school website.